Riders

Prepare for the Ride of a Lifetime

Riding in the Little 500 is a defining life experience where more than 25,000 people gather to witness you pedal your way into Hoosier history. Camaraderie, competition, and celebration await—but only if you’re up to the challenge. 

2025 Little 500 Race Dates

Friday, April 25th 4pm Women's Race

Saturday, April 26th 2pm Men's Race

2025 Little 500 Team Guide

2025 Little 500 Broadcast

2024 Little 500 Race Results


Join the Tradition

Become an IUSF Rider or Member

Once you’ve decided to enter the race:

Subscribe to Little 500 Rider Emails

Want to learn more about the legacy of Little 500? Schedule an appointment to tour the Wilcox House to explore over 75 years of history.

Explore our History

Spring Cycling

Qualifications

Little 500 Qualifications is the official qualifying event of the Little 500 race. All registered and eligible Little 500 teams will draw attempt times at random prior to the day of the event. Teams will be given three total attempts from which their fastest four-lap qualifying time will be selected. A single attempt will consist of four consecutive laps, with each designated rider riding one lap. An attempt will be preceded by one warm-up fly lap. Upon crossing the start/finish line the official timing will begin. At the conclusion of each lap, the riders must exchange the bicycle with the next person within an exchange zone measuring 16 feet on either side of the start/finish line. The time will stop as the fourth rider crosses the finish line. The fastest 33 men's and women's teams will set the official starting grid for the Little 500. Student ID required for sign in.

Event Date and Time Spring 2025

2025 Qualifications Broadcast

2025 Qualifications Schedule

2024 Qualification Results

Spring Cycling Series

In each heat, one rider will be placed at each of the four corners of the track. From a standing start, at the sound of the horn, each participant will make four complete laps. At the conclusion of the fourth lap, the timers will stop the clock. Riders will be sorted into groups based on their four-lap time. Student ID required for sign in.

Event Date and Time Spring 2025

This race is run in heats of 6–12 riders. Once the competition begins, the last rider to have his or her front tire cross the start/finish line will be eliminated from competition. The final three riders of each first-round heat will advance to the next round. Every round thereafter, only two riders will advance until the semifinal heat, when three riders advance. The heats will continue in this fashion until a championship heat is reached. In the championship heat, the remaining three riders will complete one final lap, and the rider to have his or her front tire cross the start/finish line first will be declared the Miss N Out champion. Student ID required for sign in.

 Event Date and Time Spring 2025

Two teams of four riders will each race simultaneously against one another. The bikes will be placed at opposite corners of the track, lying flat on the cinders. The race begins with both teams standing 20 feet from their bikes. At the sound of the horn, the teams sprint to their bikes and begin the 15-lap race. The two teams chase one another while ultimately competing against the clock. Each team continues to ride until the third rider of each team crosses his/her respective start/finish line. The two teams with the fastest times will compete in a final Team Pursuit championship heat at the end of the night. Student ID required for sign in.

Event Date and Time Spring 2025

Spring Rookie Requirements

  • Attend Rookie 101
  • Must meet a minimum of 10 hours at the track during Rookie Week
    • at least 5 hours must be logged during the first week of Rookie Week
    • at least 5 hours must be logged during the second week of Rookie Week
  • Participate in a minimum of 2 of 3 Spring Cycling Events
  • Pass the Rookie Exam with 85% or more correct answers
  • Pass the Rookie Skill Checklist
  • Must meet a minimum of 7.5 hours at track practice before Qualifications to ride in Qualifications
  • Must meet a minimum of 17.5 hours at track practice (does not include rookie week hours) before the Little 500 race 
  • Student ID required for sign in for all events

Veteran Rider Requirements


  • Minimum number of hours logged at track practice by Thursday, March 27 to ride in Qualifications: 7.5 hours
  • Minimum number of hours logged at track practice by Tuesday, April 22 to ride in the Little 500: 17.5 hours
  • Riders failing to meet the requirements and minimums will be ineligible to participate with their teams in Qualifications and/or the Little 500
  • Student ID required for sign in for all events

Fall Cycling

Friday Wilcox Group Rides

Connect with the Little 500 community and get familiar with Bloomington roads and scenery. The Riders Council leads all rides. Each week, four rotating route options are available for varying skill levels and speeds. All Little 500 riders are welcome to attend Friday Group Rides. Student ID required for sign in.

If you do not have access to a road bike, IUSF offers rental bikes to students looking to join. Contact iusf@iu.edu for more details.

Fall Little 500 Skills Clinics

New to the Little 500? Attend the Fall Little 500 Skills Clinics to discover what the race is all about. You’ll learn all the basics of bike racing, from exchanges and pack riding to bumping drills and more. Loaner Little 500 bikes will be available at Bill Armstrong Stadium. All riders must bring their own helmet. Student ID required for sign in.

Weeknight Race Series

The Weeknight Race Series consists of three track-based racing events—all using Little 500 bikes.

Riders will pay a $50 fee for the entire fall season, and will be emailed a sign-up link for each individual event in advance of the event.

Riders will be split into categories based on the year they completed Rookie Week. The IU Student Foundation will track the progress of all riders and award points based on performance. Each event the top three men's and women's riders will receive awards. Student ID required for sign in.

Fall Cycling Series

In each heat, one rider will be placed at each of the four corners of the track. From a standing start, at the sound of the horn, each participant will make four complete laps. At the conclusion of the fourth lap, the timers will stop the clock. Riders will be sorted into groups based on their four-lap time. Student ID required for sign in.

 

Think of Street Sprints as drag racing on a Little 500 bike. Competition starts in the qualifying round. Riders will be slotted into preliminary heats of six to eight riders and timed as they sprint 200 meters down Kirkwood Avenue. The top 16 men and top 16 women will advance to the championship round. Based on their qualifying time, riders will be slotted into the championship bracket and proceed to race one-on-one as they advance through the bracket to the finals. Student ID required for sign in.

 

It’s a relay obstacle course on bikes! Riders pair into teams of two to complete alternating laps of a preset course. Teams ride 12 laps and riders exchange between each lap with the option to use the same bike or two different bikes. Various obstacles include straw bales, stairs, sand, and more. Student ID required for sign in.

 

Fall Rookie Requirements

  • Complete 3 out of the 4 Little 500 Skills Clinics
  • Participate in 4 of 6 fall cycling events (including WRS and Fall Cycling Series)
  • Attend 3 of 6 Friday Group Rides
  • Attend 1 of 2 Rookie Seminars/Rookie 101
  • Pass the Rookie Exam with 85% or more correct answers
  • Must meet a minimum of 7.5 hours at track practice before Qualifications to ride in Qualifications
  • Must meet a minimum of 17.5 hours at the track between Rookie Week and the race
  • Participate in a minimum of 2 of 3 Spring Cycling Series Events
  • Complete 2026 spring rookie week skill checklist
  • Student ID required for sign in at all events